THE_CRIPPLER

Why I Love Prowrestling

This Blog is Not gonna be very informative and I apologize in advance for anyone who reads this and expects a Blog full of opinions, Predictions or information. This Blog is a little more personal.

To Go on with story you have to understand where I'm coming from and whats my story... Back in 1987, My family spent a lot of time with My Uncle, He was Very sick with Cancer. He had two Daughters he loved very much but he never had a boy and he always wanted a boy, So he Kinda took me and my brothers like sons... One Day him and his Wife was watching Saturday Nights Main Event in 1987, He made me and my brother watch with them. The main event ( The Very First Match I ever seen) was Hulk Hogan vs Paul Orndorff in a steel cage for the WWF championship. I remember them rooting for Paul Orndorff and me rooting for the Big Guy in the Yellow Boots (Hulk Hogan). When All was said and done I was Right, Hulk Hogan beat Paul Orndorf and was still The WWF champion... My Uncle Died a year or so after that. He lost his life to Cancer, He was very Young maybe in his mid 30's and here I'am 25 years later at the age of 29 Still Watching Prowrestling and still getting as excited now as I did in 1987 at 5 years old.

and in those 25 years that of have watched prowrestling, So much has happened and changed obviously. Here I'am, 29 years old, Divorced from a 5 year marriage( I left my ex wife 6 years ago) a Single father of a 7 year old boy (doing the math, I was 18 when I got married 22 when I had my son). In the last 4 years I was engaged twice To Two Very beautiful Ex models, I have lost a few relatives and friends to death, I have had many bonds and friendships severed, People I grew up with and people I considered Best Friends I have lost touch with or Simply don't care enough to keep in contact with cause I just Grew apart from them.... Why this long and boring story? Cause in those 25 years so much has changed, but one hasn't changed in my life and that is Prowrestling.

A lot of people have come and gone, Wives, Fiances, Friends, Family members. A Lot of fads, Hobbies and Things I loved from my childhood Have come and gone, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman, Superman, X-men, Spiderman, Nintendo, Playstation. The one thing that has remained, The one thing that has stood with me after 25 years and was able to hold my interest, The one thing that I continue to love just as much or more now then I did when I was a kid is Prowrestling. In 25 years that has never changed.

I never ever in my life has a kid ever wanted to be anything else in the world other than a prowrestler. When I was 8 years old, Most kids around my age had fantasized about being a Cop, Astronaut, Lawyer, A Cowboy. Most kids changed by the day but Not me, I only fantasized about being a Prowrestler, It's all I ever wanted to be... When I was a teenager and most teens around my age dreamed of being a Rock Star, A Sports Star or a Movie Star, I dreamed of Being a Prowrestler and Nothing else. I Never thought about being a Rock, Movie or Sports star, Ever. It just never interested me.....( Side note) Believe me, Being a Teenager and being a prowrestling fan and watching it wasn't the coolest or most popular thing to do I assure you.

There is nothing on Television like prowrestling. No Sport or TV Program will ever compare. Nothing can bring the emotion and the excitement that prowrestling can, No other Sport or TV show in history can convey emotions like prowrestling.... Emotions like a Chris Benoit Winning the World title at WM 20 and hugging and crying with Eddie Guerrero... in 1994 I seen Chris Benoit Wrestle Eddie Guerrero and was Blown away, I got Behind Chris Benoit that day and I watched that lower Midcard WCW talent make a slow rise to the top and Win the biggest prize in the number 1 company at the biggest event (WM 20). Chris Benoit was my guy, He was the guy I picked and against all odds he made it, He finally got the prize. I was teased by WCW and WWF for 10 years and Finally Chris Benoit was The World Champion and it couldn't get any bigger than the way he won it, The match, The moment, The event, Everything was just perfect and then When Eddie Guerrero and him were standing in the ring, Hugging, Crying and celebrating, Its the most real prowrestling or any TV show is gonna get..... Moments like Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, Survivor series 1997. For years you heard how these men hated each other, You watch countless shoot interviews and Documentaries talking about these mens bitter rivalry. Then You see them Stand in the Ring 12 years later and bury the hatchet and embrace on live TV. It was a incredible and surreal moment that you cant see anywhere else..... They are countless other moments like me and my brothers not being allowed to order Wrestlemania 13 and watching it scrambled on PPV. We Could just hear the commentary and hearing that Austin refused to Quit to the Sharpshooter and a Bloody Austin just passed out.. The WWF vs WCW war, The atmosphere was incredible around that time, They were debates after debates. WWF and WCW fans rubbing failures of each companys in their supporters face and gloating about the success of their company. It made a wrestling fan feel like they were apart of the company, Like its us against them. You were a WCW guy, a WWF guy or a few very vocal ones were ECW guys. Some fans were so loyal to their federation. It made live events so much better, It made TV better, It made everything better cause you wanted your federation to win. Its just something that cant be matched anywhere else.

I Dont ever buy Indy Shows, but back in 2003 I bought this DVD that was ROHs first Event, I bought it cause Eddie Guerrero was on it and it was just sitting there at Best Buy. I didn't think too much of it but I figured $10 dollars, No biggie... The Man event had The Fallen Angel Chris Daniels (who I was familiar with cause of his showings as a WWF jobber and TNAs weekly PPVs), Low Ki (who I was Also impressed with cause of his TNA work) and some No one from my home town named Bryan Danielson. I thought to my self "Whos this loser, He don't look like a Wrestler". I watched a incredible 45 min Triple Threat and That No one that didnt look like a wrestler, Impressed the hell out of me and I followed his career some what in the indys, Just watched a few things with him here and there and was a fan of his and Always wanted to see him in the WWE. Then the Day he came to the WWE I was so impressed with him, Then to see him evolve to the wrestler he is now is just incredible... Things like this sets prowrestling apart from everything and is why I love it.

Yes, I'am a Mark, Anyone who gets on here is a mark, Anyone who got excited when The Rock returned is a mark, Anyone Who got goosebumps when The Rock and Cena starred down each other and agreed to a match at wrestlemania is a Mark, Anyone Who jumped up and Down When CM Punk cut that amazing promo on Raw before his TLC match with John Cena is a Mark, Anyone who cheered When Brock Lesnar returned after Wrestlemania is a Mark.... If you ever wanted to see a guy succeed and you stood behind him and cheered when he finally got that moment on top then you are a Mark. Anyone who gets on here and acts like he is above being a Mark and writes a blog talking about wrestling and doesn't get paid for it is a Mark, He is the worst Mark of all cause he doesn't know it..... In my eyes at Wrestlemania 28 in the Match with HHH vs The Undertaker, I seen Undertaker as a Legend, a Icon, A phenom. Chills went down my spine as he walked to the ring and the match was to begin. But to anyone else who is not a Wrestling fan, All they seen was a Old, Out of Shape Bald man with eye liner. But to me I seen the man I seen for 20 years dominate a TV show, He was time less and ageless and seemed to get better with time, I seen a man that has earned my respect and everyone around hims respect. Cause This is Prowrestling, Its a Amazing, Stupid, Beautiful Fuck up World that I absolutely Love. A World we know way too much about but then again really know nothing about... Sometimes the disappointments far outweigh Great moments, Sometimes they rob you of your hard earn money, Sometimes they fuck up your childhood memories but I wouldn't have it any other way and I wouldn't change a thing.

Besides My Relationship with God and My beautiful son, Prowrestling is best relationship I have, Its been there for me for 25 years and it will seem to be with me till I die.

Comments

Awesome. I am sorry for you to have gone through so much in your personal life, but this is the way in which all of us marks are in a common bond. I might not be one to think that the E Universe is the all be it all of the wrestling industry, but I do think it has given us many special things over its history. I, much like you, am proud to claim that I am a mark for this industry. Stories like this help me to remember that I am not the only one to have carried this fandom for as long as I have. I hope your son grows up with the same passion for it as you have. My son is 9 now and I see the same signs inside him that I had at his age. I have been a fan for as long as you have although my first match I can remember is Ron Garvin v. Ric Flair at Starrcade 87. Though I had been watching wrestling for longer, this is the first match I actually remember watching at my great grandfathers and hearing all my uncles and cousins yelling at Ric Flair. Having been a fan as long as I have, my only hope is that my son carries the same amount of joy that this industry has given me and does not regret, nor is ever bitter towards it. This might not be a "Blog Series" but it is by far a great read on a real life standpoint.

@Darkside Ron Garvin
Thank You very much for the comments... I had a very sheltered life, I'm very fortunate, Every relationship I had I have ended on my Own terms, I have a healthy beautiful son, My ex Wife gave me Full custody when I asked for the divorce even though she didn't wanna get divorced. My family is healthy and I was born in to financial stability and own my own small business and rarly work and get to spend all my time with my son... My story isnt a tragic story, Just a Story of How everything has changed so much but that1 thing has stood the same and after 25 years I still feel like a 5 year old when I watch wrestling sometimes.

I'm From Seattle so most other wrestling Feds like ECW and NWA wasnt easy to see for me... I was strictly a WWF fan but after the internet in 1996 I became a Prowrestling fan. Thanks to countless DVD's, Tapes and Wrestling videos online I relive some of those amazing moments Like Flair and Funk, Flair and Steamboat and Sting and Vader. I come to appreciate a love The work of men Like Ricky Steamboat and The Great Harley Race.... I love Prowrestling and I love to put more but the blog got long. But Iam also a great fan of many storylines and wrestlers from NWA, ECW and WCW. Too a Small extenet even japan back in the 90s.

and For my son, He hates prowrestling haha, I try so hard but he just hates it. It's ok, I'ts not for everyone, I just adapt to what he likes, If its Spongebob, Adventure Time, Nintendo Wii, Family Guy, Kirby and more recently he has a obsession with the Little Big Planet 2 game.... But Keep up the Good work, You sound like a Great father.

gr8 blog Crippler!! I have watched random matches...but, the first event I can remember is Summerslam 1991...That'll explain why I'm a huge fan of BretHart...

Bret vs Mr.Perfect is still in my memory and I love both the guys...I thought Hogan/warrior/Sgt Slaughter/LOD all r not athletic and felt only these two r athletic..for months I thought WWF is fake except for Bret/Mr.Perfect...:d

@Darkside Ron Garvin
Thank You very much for the comments... I had a very sheltered life, I'm very fortunate, Every relationship I had I have ended on my Own terms, I have a healthy beautiful son, My ex Wife gave me Full custody when I asked for the divorce even though she didn't wanna get divorced. My family is healthy and I was born in to financial stability and own my own small business and rarly work and get to spend all my time with my son... My story isnt a tragic story, Just a Story of How everything has changed so much but that1 thing has stood the same and after 25 years I still feel like a 5 year old when I watch wrestling sometimes.

I'm From Seattle so most other wrestling Feds like ECW and NWA wasnt easy to see for me... I was strictly a WWF fan but after the internet in 1996 I became a Prowrestling fan. Thanks to countless DVD's, Tapes and Wrestling videos online I relive some of those amazing moments Like Flair and Funk, Flair and Steamboat and Sting and Vader. I come to appreciate a love The work of men Like Ricky Steamboat and The Great Harley Race.... I love Prowrestling and I love to put more but the blog got long. But Iam also a great fan of many storylines and wrestlers from NWA, ECW and WCW. Too a Small extenet even japan back in the 90s.

and For my son, He hates prowrestling haha, I try so hard but he just hates it. It's ok, I'ts not for everyone, I just adapt to what he likes, If its Spongebob, Adventure Time, Nintendo Wii, Family Guy, Kirby and more recently he has a obsession with the Little Big Planet 2 game.... But Keep up the Good work, You sound like a Great father.

not only do you write awesome blogs you alos have the guts to tell us how it is to tell us how you feel and alot of personal information to share that so openly deserves my respect big man i don't care how your physique is that big man is ment on the inside you know what they say big heart=big man but major respect man and may pro wrestling always be there for you and may you enjoy it with your son perhapse? anyways it was once again a good read it brought me to my roots why i am a pro wrestling fan i thank you for that

**slow clap** I think we all need to read something like this once in a while, when were not too busy shredding eachothers opinions and the choices of the wwe. No matter how frustrated we all get with things (invasion angle, katie vick, Lesnar losing at ER, cena in general, for examples), i dont think any of us can lose sight of why we care so much, which is because the highest highs have destroyed the lowest lows. I will sit frustrated through the invasion angle all over again, To see the millenium countdown end and Jericho light up the titantron. Id watch triple H defile a mannequin for a week straight if it meant i could see CM punk cash in his money in the bank on Raw in 2008 and become world champ. Id watch Lesnar get AA'd through the ring for days and it has nothing on watching the entire Hart foundation make their entrance at Canadian Stampede in Calgary. And no matter how many ppl Super Cena demolishes, the disdain cant match the feeling i had when i was 10 and saw my hero Roddy Piper win the IC title from the Mountie at the royal rumble. I tip my hat sir. I think you had everyone rewinding a little to the highest highs theyve had as fans over the years.

Great Story Crippler. Well Done. I still have VHS's from wrestling PPV's of days long since remembered...because I will one day transfer them to dvd and be able to watch them again. The only thing that has prevented me at this point, is youtube.

I remember my first match was watching Arnold Skoland throw the towel in on Bob Backlund when he fought Iron Shiek. I'm 33, so I guess I was like 3 or 4 years old when I watched that. I never missed a beat since. I watched AWA, World Class, NWA, WCW, you name it, I watched it. Then I sort of started to limit myself a bit. I stuck with Superstars, Wrestling Challenge, Prime Time, WCW Saturday Night...etc.

I can relate with the "wrestling isn't cool" when you're a teenager. Even over the summer, I wouldn't go out on Monday Nights because of Raw and Nitro. *eek*.